Ady 1

After finally reaching the end of my patience with an ongoing flat battery syndrome on my STi MY03 type UK and having been told things like I don't drive it enough to charge the battery I have very reluctantly decided to swap the car for a Golf TDi 150. I know its a feekin great drop in power but at least I will have a car that if left for a week will start up for me. I have had a new battery and charged the new one right up etc and am really pissed now. I have heard people on here with the same problems but Subaru don't seem to acknowledge that there is a problem. Anyway enough is enough. By the way I owned a classic shape for 4 years and left it sometimes for 3 weeks at a time, turned the key and she thrumned into life. Hope you guys and gals still have fun with your motors, I have enjoyed my chats on the net. Goodbye and good luck.

Ady

Craigieboy

give it a few months, you'll start missing the power, handling, smile on your face, burble, etc etc and you could be back!!

corradoboy

Read a thread on here recently where a guy had solved his flat battery problem by replacing a faulty relay for the fog lights. Something to do with it "leaking charge" A bit late for you now, but you might be back, after all, it's summer

misty

You'll be back!!!!!!
dave

P.S. If I'm not using mine for a week or so I put it on a very low trickle charge to keep it topped up! no hassle.

steve_g

Don't some of the top Clifford alarms start your engine automatically when they detect the voltage of the battery drop??

You could get one of these and then no matter how long you leave it the car will always be ready to start.

Glenn_R

You'll be back. I tried to turn my back on Scooby ownership last year after my P1 ate its clutch, its gearbox then popped a piston. After 3 months I was back in the fold - once you're hooked.......

quicksprint

How about the solar battery (savers)chargers on the market?..
Maplins sell them...part number N43AJ (1W power rating)£19.99 or N44AJ (1.8W power rating)£24.99
They plug into the cigar lighter socket(or hard wire) and will always allow a small amount of charge back into the battery even under artificial light.
Thet consist of a small solar panel that could be postioned on the dashboard or rear parcel shelf.
I had one on my 16 ft fishing boat that was only used about 10 times a year and never suffered from a flat battery.

steve

scoobydooooo

i had the same problem with my old bugeye , turned out it needed a new alternator , which the dealer duly replaced !!

STI MAN

Me too!

barrybudden

I used to own a MK2 GTI it was a great car, the new Golf's aren't nearly as good as the old MK1's and MK2's.

Best of luck anyway.

pappasmurf

....should have gone for a test drive in a Leon Cupra 150 Tdi...looked at one this week....much better then the Golf and cheaper.

I think you will miss your Scooby.

Flat 4x4

I didn't miss my last Subaru as I thought I would and I went the VAG route as well - to Skoda. If I didn't care at all about running costs and unwanted attention then maybe I would, but there are some upsides to having a change for a while.

Anyway, the next generation Impreza arrives next year !

mattsan

Ive left my MY99 for 2 weeks,gone back to it and its started 1st time! What is it with the neewer scoobs why do you have all this grief??

Melina

Ady,

Good luck! You have certainly chosen the best alternative. The Golf is one of the best-selling cars and is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year!

Melina

tiggers

Another good advert for Subaru and their dealers then.

BTW I don't think you'll miss the handling as if your UK STI is anything like mine it probably bounces so much you're too scared to drive it fast.

I haven't got the flat battery problem, but mine won't start when cold and has poorly damped suspension - two more problems that don't exist acoording to the dealer or Subaru - I must be imagining it then.

Good luck with your new car mate.

tiggers.

RRH

Mine hasn't been out of the garage for over a month as I've been in plaster.

Started first time this morning, battery sounding quite lievly, which surprised the hell out of me!

Sorry you guys haven't been as lucky

Ady 1

Thanks for the good wishes guys an gals. Melina, I'm glad you think I'm choosing a good car, makes me feel kinda better about it, Ta. Good luck to you all with your motors.

Ady

Mr Scoob

I have had the same issue with mine, a new battery did not solve the problem. It is certainly frustrating because my MY99 could be left for over a month without any problems. Now have a trickle battery charger from Halfords and leave it connected when the car it is in the garage. With the charger connected the car can be left for however long I like and will always start first time (£20 well spent IMO).

stevebt

iTrader: (8)

batteries are a problem and its a pain when they die have a classic and if its not driven the battery goes flat so i make a big effort to take the car for a spin every 5 days, if i havent driven it

akshay67

Few months? The current battery rarely lasts a week, unless it'll magically charge itself up!

Melina

Ady - I am kind of biased....I live in wolfsburg.

r32

Just hope you are not jumping out of the fireplace into the fire......
I was a dedicated Golf guy for twenty years, owning Mk1,2,3, 4 and R32. I went to Suaru because of dire quality and crap dealers. It certainly isnt what it used to be.
After the R32 I went to Subaru, and yes I have suffered with flat batteries too if I park the car for a week or more, even after a new battery! So I now have it plugged into an optimate and that keeps it topped up all the time. I think the tracker takes more power that they give it credit for........

Diesels are for taxis mate! Every time you see a Scooby from now, you'll think "I used to have one of those"

Stig2

Does this thread relate to '03 models only? The reason I ask is because I have a WRX03, and have never suffered any problems. I go to work at stupid o'clock, and if it let me down once, someone would really feel the brunt of my temper! I assume the trackers you refer to, are the RAC standard fit version, is that correct? Repeated failures must indicate it can't be the battery! My tracker was fitted aftermarket, as you all know WRX's don't come as standard with them. My car is not always used daily, and I certainly don't f*** about driving with lights on when they're not needed. Don't take any crap, get a different dealer to sort it, or get trading standards, watchdog, whatever involved. A £25k car should not do this. I think the RAC should address this problem pdq! It looks very bad for a manufacturer to take such a poor stance with this.
My opinion only !!!

Iain Young

I've often left my MY02 UK Sti for a couple of weeks (when going on hioliday etc), and it's always started first touch of the button when I come back to it.

Best of luck with the Golf. If the expeiences of a few people at work are anything to go by, you'll need it (poor dealerships / service, unreliable, bits falling off etc). You'll get much better mpg though

Ady 1

Thanks again all you good ol scoob owners, Its kinda to late now, I sold my scoob today for 19200 to a dealer who no doubt will scoop a few grand on the resale. To be honest I can't be arsed with months of threatening letters/watchdog/top gear etc cos its just makin me more pissed off. I went to pick my lad up from university today and on the motorway I came across afleet of RS Cosworths(Escort/Saphire/Sierra) they must have been going to a meet, when I flew past about 4 of them pulled out and the fronts came up in anger, result was I lunched the feekin lot of them easy meat so yes I will miss the beast but I am one of lifes unfortunates who seems to get the bad egg, if I fell into a barrel of **** I would come up sucking my thumb so now I expect to see all the people who would have snatched my hand off at 20 grand pile in the posts. Anyway enough sour grapes, as I said before good luck to you all I hope you have better luck than I had.

Ady